Breaking up with my Back(pack)

I am FINALLY ditching my camera backpack!

On our most recent video production trip to Colorado, I noticed my back starting to ache. When I told my crew they pointed fingers straight at the forty-pound photography backpack; I had been slinging around since we left Providence.

I have had camera backpacks for a long time and specifically loved my LowePro Pro Runner BP 350 AW II backpack that has carried my photo and video gear in the last few years. It has held up well and makes it easy to transport equipment when you need your hands free or are going faced with some hiking to get to your photography location.

A few more days of back pain and the team telling me it was time to get a rolling suitcase, I started to listen. They sold me on the ease of a roller bag. “It’ll be a breeze to wheel through the airport,” they said. “You can roll the suitcase and carry your very light Profoto backpack instead,” they suggested. “It will save your back,” they claimed.

Onboard, I was on to do my research to find the ideal replacement. The requirements: the bag itself should be light, similar in size to the backpack so we don’t need to ditch gear or add more bags (we do our best to travel light(ish)), be padded and protective, and have four wheels to keep us agile when getting through airports or loading onto sets.

The winner? LowePro’s Photostream SP 200. The size is ideal for overhead storage on airplanes and tucking into full trunks, the four wheels make it easy to turn and navigate, the inserts are sturdy, and it looks good, too. Compared to the backpack, the space inside is a bit of a squeeze, but we made it work by releasing what we don’t need or moving a few essential items to a light stand bag that typically travels with us.

Watch my review of the Lowe Pro Photo Stream SP 200 bag and stay tuned to see how it works out for us! I will also post on my Instagram the bag’s travel adventures.